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EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 12:11 pm
by Chaser1
Aftermath:
It took two relentless days to purge Camp Wilson of the undead, and another week under a punishing sun to hunt down the stragglers hiding in the desert. Lt. Mikado and his fly-boys refused to leave, lingering overhead like guardian hawks until the last corpse stopped moving. By the end, nearly a hundred townsfolk, friends, and family lay dead. No one escaped untouched. Of all Reggie’s peers, only Kar didn’t make it; a single absence that somehow felt heavier than the rest.

The old rumor that zombie bites were always fatal shattered. Only one person had a bite become infected and turn them. Others amputated limbs. Most simply endured, scarred but alive.

Nova’s Return:
After the Lieutenant departed, Reggie spent more time with Nova. She drifted back toward her old self, but the change in her was impossible to ignore; pale skin, strange orange‑yellow eyes, a coldness that never left her body. The townsfolk kept their distance, whispering, watching. Only Reggie spoke to her like she was still human.

When paranoia finally pushed the orphanage staff to let her go, Hank allowed her to stay with him and Reggie until the town calmed down. Some nights, Reggie could hear her crying through the thin walls, muffled and lonely.

The Making of a Lawman:
Reggie’s father never recovered from losing his wife. He buried himself in work, then slowly began teaching Reggie the lawman’s trade; guns, bullets, horses, weapon mods, even a few flashy revolver tricks. The lessons became their way of grieving together. Eventually, Hank deputized him. Reggie still isn’t sure if it was trust… or fear of losing another person he loved.

With Alfred Kersch gone, the town pushed Hank into serving as temporary mayor. No one else dared step forward, except Mazur...

Training, Secrets, and Departures:
Karen Aoki, the raven‑haired ghost of a woman, taught Reggie blades, hand‑to‑hand combat, and the cold patience of a sniper. Hunter, the talkative Hispanic acrobat, taught him Spanish, hovercycle riding, and some impossibly difficult gymnastic feats. Then came the truth: Hunter was cybernetically enhanced, dangerously so. The town forced him out. Last Reggie heard, he’d drifted toward Lake Crenshaw.

Shep left soon after, flying off in his Silver Eagle. He didn’t know when he’d return. Most who cross the lines never do.

A Town Trying to Heal:
Months passed in uneasy calm. Reggie reconnected with old friends, even Hughe, and for a while, life almost felt normal again. Jack took over his father’s farm. Ryan fished with Reggie, both wary of man‑eating fish. Irina tried nursing, hated it, and quit. Beth replaced Mary Ann at the diner. Amy, the escaped orphan, settled into the orphanage with Irina. Mazur clawed his way out of depression and began working with Hank, hoping to eventually take over as mayor.

Ret drifted until he found purpose helping Susan at the library. Hughe threw himself into rebuilding the town and training to fight. Natalya, the red‑haired warrior who once saved them all, struggled with blackouts and heartbreak over Yuno’s disappearance. She regularly visits Dr. Anderson.

Some farmers never even knew the outbreak happened. Others dismissed it as conspiracy. Reggie, now privy to regional intelligence, watches the rumor‑spreaders carefully.

Alan West stayed, was deputized, and became Under Sheriff. Reggie tried not to imagine losing his father... or losing anyone else.

The townsfolk began calling Hank, Alan, Shep, Reggie, Mazur, Jack, Hughe, Ryan, and Natalya valiant heroes. Talk of a militia rose and fell. Some even asked Reggie or Shep to run for sheriff someday. Yet, Shep left instead.

Elections and Tension:
The mayoral race is tightening: Mazur, Magnus Martin the farmer, and Simon Rhodes the aging music teacher, each represent a different future for Camp Wilson; agriculture, culture, or expansion. Opinions split the town equally between the three candidates.

The Southern Perimeter:
Today, Reggie patrols the southern perimeter 'line' atop Apple, the smartest horse he’s ever known. The desert is quiet until Apple snorts, jerking her head toward the horizon.

A dark speck races toward them, cutting across the shimmering heat, kicking up an expanding plume of dust behind it. Too fast for a motorcycle. Too smooth.

A hovercycle.

Reggie straightens in the saddle, hand drifting toward his revolver. Whatever’s coming, it’s coming fast.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 3:12 pm
by Norgarth
Reggie pulls out his binoculars to get a better look at the inbound hovercycle, suddenly wishing he had some way to let the town know about it.

he rests one hand on his 'Big Man' laser pistol as he looks through the binoculars. A hovercycle likely means the rider is wearing MDC armour.

Hopefully they come in peace. Assuming there's only one hovercycle, then they are probably[/i[ just a traveller.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2026 3:48 pm
by Chaser1
Reggie pulls out his binoculars to get a better look at the inbound hovercycle, suddenly wishing he had some way to let the town know about it. He rests one hand on his 'Big Man' laser pistol as he looks through the binoculars. A hovercycle likely means the rider is wearing composite alloy armor. Hopefully they come in peace.

They seem to begin to blow past Reggie until they finally notice him there. They slow down and circle back. There are two riders. The driver has a female, who looks unconscious, strapped to his back with a tie down strap. He frantically waves as he slows to a stop about thirty feet away. "We need help!" he lifts his helmet off of his rust colored plastic armor, revealing a young, shaggy brown-haired man with a stubbly beard, "Our city was attacked and she's hurt! Can you help?"

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 5:42 pm
by Norgarth
Reggie will dismount and hurry over with a first aid kit. He'll look over the woman and try to help as best he can, but that's likely to be more stabilization than anything else. "Which city?" he asks, "And what attacked you?"`

After he provides what treatment he can (or if she appears to be beyond his meager skills), he'll give the driver directions to Camp Wilson, including a quick description of the hospital.

After that, he'll try to find some high ground and check out their back trail, in case something is following them.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2026 6:45 pm
by Chaser1
Reggie dismounts Apple and hurries over with his first aid kit. He unstraps the woman and lays her flat on the seat of the large hovercycle. He looks her over and sees a gunshot wound in her upper torso... that isn't bleeding anymore. The blood froth around her lips isn't a good sign either. He checks for a pulse, but she's gone. "Which city?" he asks, "And what attacked you?"`

"We're from Drive City. and the Pecos raiders came... again," the man replies. Reggie's heard of Drive City, which is about a one to two day horse ride or about two to three hours by hovercycle. The man notices Reggie not helping the woman, "Hey! Is she going to pull through?"

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 6:38 pm
by Norgarth
As soon as he notices that the bleeding has stopped, Reggie gets a sinking feeling, the lack of pulse confirming it.
"I'm sorry, but she's gone. No pulse, it looks like she was shot in the lung."

After the man gets past his initial grief (or other emotions), Reggie will help him strap her back on and give him directions to town. "If nothing else, we can give her a proper burial. Also, I'm sure the Sheriff will be interested in any info you can give him about the attack."

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2026 6:53 pm
by Chaser1
Reggie's worst fears are confirmed as he must explain to this poor man, "I'm sorry, but she's gone. No pulse, it looks like she was shot in the lung."

He refuses to accept it, as he tearfully tries to shake her awake, "Wake up..." is all he says. He sits for a few minutes, as he pets her hair, rocking back and forth as he holds her close. Eventually, he stands back up, lifting her and carrying her back to the hovercycle. Reggie helps him strap her back on and begins giving him directions to town. But the man interrupts him, "I don't care about your town. I just needed help. I don't need it anymore. I'm going to burn Drive City to the ground and kill every last one of those pieces of shit and I'll save the leader for last, so that he can suffer." He balls his fist as his anger slightly intimidates Reg.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2026 8:39 pm
by Norgarth
Somewhat uncertain in the face of such rage and hatred, Reggie quietly says, "Camp Wilson may not be as big as Drive City, but we can at lest give her a proper funeral."

Reggie is fairly sure if this guy simply charges back in in a berzerk fury, he won't accomplish much before he also dies. Maybe with a day or two taken for a funeral, he can turn it into a colder rage. Tactics will increase his chances and effectiveness.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2026 8:29 am
by Chaser1
Somewhat uncertain in the face of such rage and hatred, Reggie quietly says, "Camp Wilson may not be as big as Drive City, but we can at lest give her a proper funeral." Reggie is fairly sure if this guy simply charges back in in a berserk fury, he won't accomplish much before he also dies. Maybe with a day or two taken for a funeral, he can turn it into a colder rage. Tactics will increase his chances and effectiveness.

The man sighs, uses his long leather gloves to wipe his eyes and faces Reggie, "Yeah, I suppose that would be mighty appreciated. She would probably like that." He walks back to his hovercycle, wraps some straps around her torso and pulls her back up to his back, as though, for the last time, he gets to feel her against his back. He savors the feeling, then breathes deeply, "Okay, show me where it is. My name's Reck," he flashes a weak smirk, "Short for reckless," as though he uses that greeting often.

Re: EOTC: Life as a Lawman

Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2026 6:33 pm
by Norgarth
"I'm Reggie." Reggie gives his directions to town in general, and where to find the Sheriff's office in particular. "He'll know who to talk to about the funeral. I still need to finish my patrol, not like Apple would be able to keep up with you anyways," he finishes with a wry grin.

Once Reck heads off (with a wave from Reggie), he continues along his patrol route, though with more looks in the direction of Drive City with the binoculars. He's watching for more refugees mostly, The Pecos Bandits aren't likely to pursue someone this far when they could be pillaging their latest target.

He sort of wishes Hunter was still around to help defend the tow., Reggie didn't really understand why people were upset about him having cybernetics, it's just tech.